2026 Inland Empire Market Update

Here's where things stand across Riverside and San Bernardino counties heading into the second half of 2026, in plain terms, without the jargon.

Prices have leveled off, not fallen off

After a few fast-moving years, the Inland Empire has settled into a calmer, more balanced market. Median home prices across the region are roughly flat compared to a year ago, in some areas down slightly, in others holding steady or ticking up a bit depending on the city and price point. This isn't a downturn. It's a market catching its breath after a stretch of rapid growth.

Homes are taking a bit longer to sell

Inventory has grown compared to the ultra-tight years of 2021 and 2022, which means buyers have more to choose from and less pressure to waive every contingency just to compete. Homes here are generally going under contract within about three to four weeks in most areas, versus the days-long bidding wars of a few years back. For sellers, that just means pricing accurately from the start matters more than ever. Overpriced listings are the ones sitting.

Rates have eased, a little

Mortgage rates have come down slightly from their recent peak, hovering in the low-to-mid 6% range for most conventional buyers. That's not the 3% many people remember from a few years ago, but it's enough movement that we're seeing more buyers who'd been sitting on the sidelines start looking again.

Why the Inland Empire still makes sense

Even with prices where they are, the IE remains one of the more affordable entry points into Southern California homeownership, especially compared to LA and Orange County. That gap is exactly why a lot of buyers are still willing to make the commute trade-off for more space and a lower price tag.

What this means for you

• Buying: You have more room to negotiate and less pressure to overbid than a few years ago, but well-priced homes in good condition still move fast.
• Selling: Pricing right from day one matters more in a slower market. Overpricing and "chasing the market down" costs you more than starting accurately.
• Either way: Local, neighborhood-level data matters more than regional headlines. Averages hide a lot of variation city to city.